THE chairman of Ryedale District Council has issued a personal plea for organ donors, saying that the district's residents could help to save someone's life.

Councillor David Cussons has launched an appeal to every registered elector in the district, asking them to add their name to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

His letter tells residents that they may hold the key to offering another person a new lease of life.

He said: "The technique of transplanting human organs allows nearly 3,000 people in the UK every year to take a new lease of life. Transplantees see a full and healthy lifestyle replacing a life-threatening illness in these cases. In addition, over 2,000 people a year have their eyesight restored by cornea transplantation.

"The key to survival of the many individuals awaiting organ transplants is the NHS Organ Donor Register. I am asking people to sign up as organ donor. There is no upper age limit for registering, and it is particularly important to encourage the younger generation to register as donors."

Coun Cussons agreed to send out the letter when asked by representatives of the register.

"I was approached and asked if I would do this. I think it is part of a drive to increase the number of donors. It is something they wanted to do in Ryedale," he added.

He said that he had never required a transplant, nor had anyone close to him, but that he was more than happy to raise public awareness of the register.

Coun Cussons is also doing his bit to help out St Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough and the Macmillan cancer nurses. Next month, an evening dinner followed by an auction of promises will be held at his home, High Hagg Farm in Kirkbymoorside.

Proceeds will be split between the two charities.

A variety of items have been promised for the sale, which takes place on Saturday, September 30. Some of the items include a week in a five-star holiday cottage in Ryedale, an MOT test for a car, a day's shooting, a case of wine and 80 bales of good quality hay.

Tickets for the event, which cost £12.50, are available from the member services department at Ryedale House in Malton or the Tourist Information Centres in Helmsley, Malton and Pickering.

Coun Cussons hopes 200 people will attend the dinner and sale. The following day, he will attend a civic service at the Methodist Church in Kirkbymoorside.